The Global Fund needs a strategy to address HIV and Hepatitis C among IDUs

Evgenia Maron
Currently, the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (The Global Fund) has strategies for supporting people of different sexual orientations and gender identities, and promoting gender equality. However, there is no such strategy for improving HIV and hepatitis C responses among injecting drug users (IDUs). According to Ivan Varentsov, coordinator of Civil Society Action Team (CSAT), Eurasian Harm Reduction Network (EHRN), "We know that in many regions, not only gender inequality fuels the HIV epidemic, but also injection drug use. IDUs face no less stigma and discrimination, [and] suffer because of lack of access to prevention and treatment services." Read more